Chapter 5

I was shaken awake.

"El!"

I opened my eyes groggily to see a girl sitting over me, her hazel eyes sparkling with concern. "Maple."

"You're awake," she exhaled.

She slid her hand under me and helped me sit up. My back didn't hurt as much, so I accepted it. "Thanks."

We sat side by side, leaning on the wall. She spoke first. "So?" I knew what she was asking.

"Around ten."

"That many?" She asked, looking at the ground. I nodded. "Are you alright, then?" She said, turning her head to look at me, lips twisted in worry.

"Yes," I answered.

"What are we going to do, El? There're only — " she broke off, her eyes apologetic. But I didn't mind, much.

"Three more days," I supplied.

"We have to get you out," she said, eyes wide.

"I don't think it's possible, Maple. You saw what happened after Juniper tried."

Maple sighed, now chewing on her lower lip, "Then what do we do?" I only shrugged, and she put her head in her hands, "We're going to die."

I blinked, and her head shot to me. "I'm sorry, El, I didn't mean — "

I shook my head at her. "I know."

I'd accepted it. So maybe I'd die, if that was what was planned for me. But I would make a difference. I would change something. Change this system. And I knew how.

She was still watching me. "It's fine, Maple," I said.

"We'll find a way to fix this," she said.

"Maple, we can't. But there is something you can help me with," I said, looking at her.

"Tell me." Her eyes lit up, and I knew she'd do anything I asked of her.

I whispered my plan into her ear. Her eyes widened as I spoke. I had barely finished when she exclaimed, "El, that's genius!"

"It won't work," I said. I knew it wouldn't, but I couldn't just do nothing.

"Well, maybe," she admitted, "But maybe it will."

"You're too optimistic," I grumbled.

"That I am, Princess."

Maple soon left, promising to make sure I could carry out my plan. I had no worries on that front. I knew she'd be able to do what I'd asked of her.

My worries were on how my plan would be received — well, if I'd even be able to carry it out. It was highly unlikely that my mother, Forreston and Branch would let me do it.

But there was a Law pertaining to this very subject. I was sure about that much at least, no matter how unsure I was of everything else.

In the history of our Forest, no one had ever attempted what I was going to do. And it wouldn't be easy. Probably wouldn't even work. But I would have done something. Better than lying around in my cell uselessly like a piece of furniture.

The Council would oppose me. They were my mother's followers.

But though doubts plagued me, I had to do this. I had to raise my voice. And if it worked, I'd most likely still die, but life would be unimaginably better for the elves.

My people.

It was small, but it was all I could do. Even if I failed, the seed would be planted, and possibly in the future things would be better. Maybe word would leak out, elves would be inspired — things could be different.

And that made it worth it.

***

"Get up."

I opened my eyes, squinting at first, then widening them to the user of the rough voice. It was a guard, quite regular with plain silver armor, but he had come to get me. This could only mean one thing.

Stage One of my plan had succeeded.

My body hummed with excitement and apprehension, as I silently followed my guard back to the room which my mother pretended was mine if needed. Like before the Ceremony.

He left me at the door.

I walked in quietly. Luckily, there was no one inside. The carpet rubbed against my bare feet as I stepped to the armchair. My brain continued giving misgivings about my plan. My willpower blocked them all.

My fingers tapped nervously on the armrest of my chair, much as I tried to still them. I continued to go through what I would do and what I would say. My knee was shaking violently.

My attention snapped to the door as it opened. I held my breath, and released it, as the attendants walked in.

They proceeded to get me ready, in a yellow gown, bright as the sun, a golden necklace round my neck, a cuff round my wrist and dangling beads on my ears. Finally, they placed a golden circlet round my head, my vibrant hair in a long braid.

I dipped my head down as the attendants bowed and left the room. I was left alone.

I bit my lip, the glossy juice on it getting spoiled. I stood there, trying to breathe deeply, though my stomach was churning.

I had to admit to myself that a small, selfish part of me was worried about what my punishment would be after the events of my plan. No doubt it would be severe, because my plan most certainly wouldn't work.

But I had to do it.

My eyes shot to the door again as there was a sharp knock. I took another deep breath, calming myself. "Come in," I called, as steadily as I could manage.

A guard pushed open the door. "I've come to escort you, Princess." His armor was not silver like regular guards, but instead had two blue streaks on either side.

A Council guard.

As I walked silently, a bit behind the guard, the train of my dress trailing behind me, my heart beat continuously and rapidly, much as I tried to slow it down. Finally, he left me at the tall wooden doors.

I stopped at the doors, looking up at the intricate carvings of leaves and birds on the ornate doors, and waited until I was calm. I nodded at the guards, and they pushed the doors open.

The entire Royal Council stared as I came in.

My mother was there, sitting on her Throne, dressed in a silky violet-colored gown with gold embroidery. Forreston, looking sharp as ever in a sleek black tunic, was at her side.

The Royal Council was seated on the benches on either side of the platform where her Throne was, leaving a clear path in the middle of the room.

Ivy and Forreston glared daggers as I entered. Branch was even worse.

I tried not to let my anxiety show as I walked across the gold carpet to the center of the room, my shoes sinking into the plush material.

I stopped in front of the platform and turn to face the Elven Royal Council.

"Good Lords," I said, "As you know, it has been an ancient custom to let a royal, upon the threshold of their sixteenth year, make an Amendment, to our Laws — if the reigning Monarch sees fit. I have come, now, to perform the duty of all my ancestors. With the Queen's consent, of course." I turned to my mother at the last sentence.

She still glared at me, but she couldn't do anything. This was a rule. Juniper hadn't done so — we hadn't realized then what could be done.

Ivy glowered.

Maybe she saw the complacent look on my face.

I could clearly see her tightening her jaw. A vein pulsed in her cheek. "Fine," she said finally, through gritted teeth, "I allow you."

I nodded, a small smile on my face as I walked up onto the platform, where there was a small separation between me and the Throne.

I thought of my sisters before I began. I'd been rehearsing my speech since last night. "Lords of this Council, I have come to completely abolish a Law of our Forest."

One of the Lords stood up. I recognized him as Sir Calhoun, a staunch supporter of my mother. "This has never occurred in the past, Princess."

"Then why should it not happen now?" I said, making sure to keep the regal look on my face.

I'd learned this. How to argue and put across my point and be dignified still. I could hold my own here. I'd been trained for it.

He sat back down after a glance at Ivy.

I continued, "This Law, in fact, should have been abolished years ago, for it oppresses the elves' rights. Which, of course, cannot be allowed."

I could feel the apprehension humming in the room.

"The Law I wish to abolish is the one that states that no elf can question, rebel against or dethrone the reigning Monarch."

Complete silence.

No one said anything for the longest time while I stood there, pressurizing them with my eyes.

It was why no elf could speak out against my mother, why so many years of her tyranny had gone by. At least the rebels were attempting to change that.

The Law would be abolished if I were Queen.

I had never understood why any of my ancestors hadn't abolished that rule. Probably too comfortable to have your people having to bow to your every whim.

Ivy got away with too much, just because of that. The murder of seven of her daughters, and probably her husband, too.

Finally, Sir Arvid, a very old Council member, stood up. "She's right. This Law oppresses the elves' rights."

I knew Ivy would have kicked him off the Council a long time ago, had he not been so influential and respected. He'd been on the Council since my father's reign.

The silence in the room broke up as it filled with tense whispers. I waited for the final verdict, hiding my worry with a neutral mask on my face.

Then Sir Nairn stood up. "Princess, what you are suggesting is — to say the least —completely unheard of. While the Law may, in some ways, make the elven people unhappy, it also enforces the Queen's complete authority on our Forest. The elven people wish for their own benefit, but the Monarch thinks of the whole Forest."

"And what if the reigning Monarch follows their own individual goals instead of working for the betterment of the Forest?" I asked.

There was a collective intake of breath from the Royal Council.

Most elves' eyes were divided between me and Ivy, but I didn't have time to look at her. I focused on Sir Nairn. He continued, "Princess, such a thing has never happened before."

I controlled my sigh. They were all on my mother's side because their lives weren't threatened by her, because as long as they received their money, they were happy.

"But in the future? You cannot account for what future rulers will do, Sir Nairn. What if they do not rule for the Forest, but for themselves?"

"Princess, how can anyone descended from your just line of ancestors do so?" He argued.

"You can still not account for future generations, Sir Nairn. Anyhow, assuming elves from the Elowen line cannot be untrustworthy — though they can — what about someone who's married into our clan? How do you know what they, or their descendants, will do?"

Another huge gasp.

I noticed a bead of sweat trickling down the side of Sir Nairn's face. It gave me immense satisfaction. But he was a seasoned player, and he wouldn't back down so easily.

"Princess, I think you can trust your clan to marry the right people. Surely they can differentiate between good and bad?"

"And if they are deceived? Duped? Or compelled?" I said quickly.

"How could the ruler of this Forest, bound by no regulations, be duped or compelled?" He said smugly.

"Sir Nairn, you have forgotten what we are talking about. Not the decisions of the Elowens in marrying, but how this Law oppresses the elf people's rights."

"You are right, Princess. Even so, to abolish this Law does something which cannot, in any cases, be allowed." Branch said from his seat, not even bothering to stand up, looking quite relaxed.

As if the tension in the room didn't even bother him.

I turned my attention to him, "What?"

He smirked. "It undermines the Monarch's authority. Imagine, Princess, if this Law was abolished, what would happen? Elves rioting against orders beneficial for the whole Forest, though they may be slightly detrimental to their own little territory? Chaos. Pandemonium."

I opened my mouth to respond, but Ivy suddenly stood up. She didn't even look at me, but the glare in Forreston's eyes chilled me to the bone.

She spoke to the whole Council.

"I have heard both sides of this argument, but Sir Branch is correct. The Monarch's authority cannot be undermined in any way. And so, Princess, the Law shall not be abolished. This Council is adjourned."

Her glare was much darker than Forreston's now.

She turned, and with Forreston at her side, swept out through the door in the back. The rest of the Council stood up and filed out from the normal doors. Sir Arvid went last, shooting me a worried look while going.

I was left standing there alone, and I allowed the tremble I had suppressed till then to take hold.

My plan had failed. And now my punishment would be terrible.

A longer chapter this time! How was it? Was Elvina right to try? It was an honest effort. She couldn't do much in her situation. Don't forget to:

Vote!

Comment!

And share!

Thanks for reading!